Wicked Obsessions (17 page)

"Oh, Drew. You can't imagine what he looked like. Detective Kidder told me I didn't have to do it, but I couldn't stand waiting any longer to find out for sure. Now I wish I hadn't. I think the image and smell will haunt me the rest of my life."

He drew her over to the couch and sat down beside her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She hadn't thought she'd ever want to talk about it, yet once she started, she told him everything—about everything Kidder had told her, how the body looked, and how Selena helped her through it all, in spite of her peculiar moments.

Throughout the telling Drew restricted himself to holding her hand. Somehow anything more seemed improper while she spoke of her murdered husband. "Have you eaten today?" he asked after she'd caught him up.

"No. And I don't want to. I can't."

"Then how about a drink?"

She cocked her head at him.

"Not for me. For you." His eyes harrowed a little. "Don't worry. I don't foam at the mouth when I see someone else drinkin' what I can't have."

With a cluck of her tongue, she returned his frown. "I didn't—"

His finger pressed against her lips before she could say another word. "No, that's right. You didn't. I'm too sensitive and you're easy pickins tonight. Some wine, maybe?"

"That's fine." She started to rise and he waved her back down.

"Let me."

"The wine's in the fridge, and I had a glass in the bathroom."

He winked at her and headed down the hall. The smell of strawberries led him to the empty goblet. Seeing the tub full of cloudy water made him fully aware of the fact that she had been in it when he arrived. The bulky robe and slippers she wore left nothing exposed except her head and hands. He hadn't let himself consider what was underneath until that moment. And there wasn't a blamed thing he could do about it right now.

He lifted the drain stop to let the water out, then carried the glass to the kitchen. The size of the goblet explained why she already seemed more than a little tipsy but it didn't stop him from refilling it to the brim. Like her guardian angel, he sat beside her while she sipped her wine. And he listened sympathetically whenever she needed to repeat something she'd already told him. When her glass was almost empty and her eyes began to droop, he tucked her robe securely around her legs and picked her up.

"What're we doin' now?" she slurred, trying to focus on his face.

"I'm just goin' to tuck you in, ma'am. And you're goin' to take a long nap."

"I can walk." Rather than struggle to be let down, however, she snuggled closer.

"I know you can," he whispered as he laid her down on her unmade bed, took off her slippers, and pulled the sheet over her. He thought she'd probably be more comfortable without the robe, but he wasn't strong enough to remove it for her. Fighting the temptation to lie down beside her, he kissed her forehead and tiptoed to the door.

"Drew?"

He moved back to the side of the bed and looked down at her worried face. "What is it, darlin'?"

"Please stay."

Oh, darlin',
he thought,
how I wish you knew what you were sayin'.

She opened her eyes a fraction to look at him. "I don' care what the neighbors think tonight. I'm scared an' I don' wanna wake up all alone again.
Please."

His heart came up into his throat and he gulped it down again. With a stroke on her velvety cheek, he tried to sound reassuring. "All right. I'll sleep up in the studio."

"No! Not the studio. Too far!"

"Okay, okay," he said quickly to chase away her fears. "I'll be out on the couch if you need me."

"Guest room."

"Fine. Now go to sleep," he ordered gently, and started to leave again.

"Drew?"

He took a deep breath. Maybe he should have poured her another glass of wine. "Yes?"

"May I have 'nother g'night kiss?"

He rolled his eyes heavenward, but gave her another peck on her forehead anyway. Her drunken glare told him that it had not pleased her, and he lowered his mouth to hers, giving her the kind of kiss she had wanted in the first place. Right or wrong, he held his damsel until she fell asleep, with a perfectly contented smile on her pretty face.

* * *

In his car Kidder smiled gleefully as the numbers on the digital clock marked midnight and the last light in the Gambini house was turned off. Drew Marshall's car was still parked in the driveway. Talk about not waiting to bury the body! These two must think they'd gotten away with murder, to flaunt their affair so soon! He laughed aloud at his own play on words.

Too bad he couldn't tell Hart about this. But he'd promised the captain he'd back off Teri Gambini and concentrate on the mob angle for his last two weeks as a detective. He would present only a completed investigation with all the evidence he'd accrued against the couple. Then he would prove without a doubt that his transfer was a mistake and that Hart's opinion about his being biased was completely crazy.

Kidder played with the idea of hanging around until dawn to pay a surprise visit to the confident pair, but he decided it was too soon to tip his hand. He had no doubt there'd be plenty of other opportunities to catch them in the act.

* * *

Teri opened one eye and squinted at the illuminated clock on her nightstand. It was only four o'clock, but she felt well rested... except for the headache. The dull pounding reminded her of why she should be so well rested. She had gone to bed at an hour when other people were just sitting down to dinner. No, that wasn't entirely right. She had been
put
to bed. By Drew.

Embarrassment rushed through her as she recalled how foolish she'd been. She wasn't sure which was worse—having been too drunk to walk or begging him to kiss her goodnight. She hadn't drunk enough wine to forget either his gently tucking her in or his passionate kiss.

The house was quiet. Had Drew stayed as she'd requested? Of course he had. A gentleman never breaks a promise to a lady. And Drew was a perfect gentleman, from head to toe. The fact that she was still in her robe could attest to that. Thoughts of what he might have done were he not such a gentleman drove her from her cozy nest. Bathroom, clothes, aspirin and coffee were in order.

One glance into the vacant guest bedroom had her tiptoeing into the living room, where she found Drew sprawled on and off the couch. Guilt that she had caused him a difficult night added to her embarrassment. As quietly as possible, she went to the kitchen and started the coffee. It had barely begun to drip when Drew joined her.

"Mornin'," he said in a hoarse voice, raking his mussed hair off his forehead. "Smells good."

In that moment Teri decided he looked just as good rumpled as when he was perfectly neat and pressed. It made her wonder if he ironed all those cotton shirts he wore. "Good morning. Would an apology be acceptable, or should I throw myself off a cliff as penance?"

The bleariness had not quite left his eyes, but he managed to wink at her anyway. "A cup or two of that coffee is all I ask, ma'am."

"I apologize anyway. I don't usually... behave so badly." She turned away from him to get two mugs from the cupboard. Drew's hand on her shoulder brought her around again.

"Teri, you don't
usually
have to go through what you have in the last week. Apologies are for strangers, not friends. At any rate, it was my pleasure to be of service." When he saw her flush, he brushed her lips with his thumb. "All of it."

She restrained herself from throwing her arms around him to show him just how much of a pleasure it had been for her. Instead, she ignored the fluttering in her stomach and fixed their coffee. As she carried the hot mugs to the table, she said, "I'm glad you find being in my service so pleasurable, because I have another favor to ask."

"Sure. Whatever," he said, in a way that told her she didn't have to explain if she didn't want to.

"I have to go to the police station to look at the mug shots. And then there's, um, the arrangements for Rico. I'd like to get it all over with today—after the sun comes up, of course."

In answer to her unspoken request for company, he toasted her with his cup. "Before we get started, though, I'd best make a trip to my apartment. I don't think this shirt has another twelve hours' wear in it."

* * *

"This should keep you busy for a few hours," the young police officer said with a laugh as he set the fourth voluminous binder on the table in front of Teri and Drew. "Just let me know if you see anyone who looks familiar. When you're done with these, I have plenty more." They each chose a book and began their search.

Teri thought the task wouldn't have been half as bad if the suspects weren't such a motley crew. In her secure middle-class life, she had never had to come in contact with the dregs of humanity. After studying hundreds upon hundreds of faces, she knew how fortunate she was to have been sheltered from animals like these.

Four hours later, Drew hit the jackpot. "Teri, look at this one."

She leaned toward his book and gasped. "I think that's him. Of course, he had those wraparound sunglasses on, so it's hard to tell about the eyes, but it's the same mangy black hair and moustache. And the nose. I remember you noticed how it looked like it had been broken a few times. And that looks like the same silver skull earring he wore the day we saw him."

A few minutes later, Drew had told the officer of their success, and that man passed the news on to a superior.

A big, gray-haired man came into the room and shook hands with Teri and Drew. "Hello. I'm Captain Hart. Detective Kidder told me you'd be coming in. I realize this is a terrible imposition at a time like this, but we can't afford to drag our feet, now that we know we're dealing with an obvious mob hit. The trail goes cold awfully fast."

"It's no imposition, Captain, truly. I only wish I had reported the threat at the time. It may have—"

"Tut-tut," the captain interrupted. "Mustn't blame yourself. Had you done something sooner, you may have ended up being a target as well. As it is, now I want you to report
any
slightly suspicious activity around you. I'm not trying to alarm you, but until we check out your man, you should stay on your toes."

Teri sagged in her chair. Why hadn't she thought about the fact that she might still be in danger? That this creep could now come after her for pointing him out? That was exactly what she'd been afraid of to begin with, but after they'd found Rico's body, she'd somehow lost sight of the danger to herself. Why hadn't Detective Kidder mentioned that?

The captain told her the medical examiner would let her claim the body by Friday and promised that Detective Kidder or another officer would keep in touch. They thanked him then left to attend to the second item on Teri's agenda.

It did not take too long to make arrangements for a private graveside service and burial on Saturday. Drew stayed by her side during those sensitive decisions and remained with her while she went through her list of calls to relatives, Rico's employer, and some acquaintances she thought would want to be notified. She was glad she had pushed herself so hard to get started on her new project last week. There didn't seem to be one ounce of creative juice or anything else left in her body. She felt totally empty.

In the midst of her calls, Selena rang in. Teri thanked her again for her help the day before, but guessing that Selena would feel left out again, she omitted the news that she and Drew had identified the thug to the police.

"I've made the burial arrangements for Saturday. Under the circumstances, I want to keep it private, but I'd like you to come, Selena." Teri hadn't meant to make it sound like she was inviting her to a party, but Selena's response made her uncomfortably aware that a party was how Selena interpreted it.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Do you need anything today? Company? Groceries?"

Teri shook off her concern. Selena was just trying to be the best friend she knew how. "No, hon, but thanks for asking. I promise I'll call you if I do."

"Well, okay, then," Selena whined, obviously displeased about not being given anything helpful to do.

"On second thought, I do need a favor." Teri sensed Selena brightening immediately. "I don't own a plain black dress, and the last thing I feel like doing is shopping. Do you think you could pick me out something suitable in a size 7?"

"Of course. I'll go look right now and bring by whatever I find later tonight."

Teri glanced at Drew and knew that dinner for three was not what she wanted that night. "Tomorrow or Tuesday would be great. I have to drive over to Jersey and have dinner with my grandmother tonight. I don't know when I'll be back."

After a few more assurances, Selena sounded quite satisfied as they said goodbye.

"Well," Drew said, rising from his place on the couch, "if you're goin' visitin', I guess I'd better mosey on home."

"I'm not." She walked over and sat down on the couch.

"What?" he asked, sitting back down beside her.

"I'm not going anywhere. I lied to Selena."

Drew's eyebrows rose as he laughingly scolded her. "Why, shame on you, Miz Carmichael. An' here I thought you were such a
good
girl."